Digital evidence has become the backbone of modern criminal investigations, especially for local law-enforcement agencies facing a rapid surge in cybercrime. Yet the collection, preservation, authentication, and courtroom presentation of digital evidence remains fraught with operational, technical, and legal obstacles. This paper examines how local police forces manage digital evidence across the full investigative chain, highlighting gaps in forensic readiness, training, interoperability, and legal compliance. The study identifies key challenges such as volatile data environments, cross-jurisdictional complexities, encrypted devices, cloud-based storage, and chain-of-custody vulnerabilities. It also discusses how limited access to advanced forensic tools and inconsistent standard operating procedures undermine prosecutorial outcomes. Drawing from recent case studies, forensic frameworks, and emerging regulatory requirements, the paper assesses local agencies’ capacity to handle digital traces effectively in cybercrime prosecution. The findings reveal that although digital evidence offers high probative value, its reliability depends heavily on proper acquisition methods, validated forensic tools, and courtroom-aligned reporting practices. The study concludes that improving digital-forensic infrastructure, establishing standardized protocols, strengthening interagency collaboration, and integrating computational models into evidence analysis can significantly enhance prosecution success rates. These insights provide a foundation for policy reform and capacity development in local law-enforcement systems